Tag Archives: politics

TPP -A New Trade Disaster

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee

Every Canadian's PiggyBank affected by the TPP[/caption]

Here at Incoming Bytes we believe democracy, transparency, open-mindedness, fairness, justice and honesty are all essential requirements for any modern government. Stephen Harper and the Conservative majority was (were) soundly trounced in the recent federal election, but not before a potential trade disaster was negotiated in a hurry, in secret, without oversight of any kind and signed. A potentially destructive trade disaster looms, which will affect the economics and very nature of Canada for many decades, if not forever.

"Did Stephen Harper even have the mandate, the legal and moral right to sign any deal with such long-term, major impacts after he called the election? We think not."

From NAFTA Failure to TPP, —a NEW Trade Disaster?

Canadians have been forced to suffer the negative impacts and trade lawsuits resulting from the now-dated NAFTA trade deal foisted upon them by Brian Mulroney and the Conservatives. Is history about to repeat itself? Have the rights of Canadians been traded away?

We are about to enter into another massive, potentially far-reaching and poison trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership ( TPP), poorly "negotiated" in secret by the incredibly incompetent Stephen Harper, his favourite lobbyists, and his ill-advised, incompetent Conservative minions. The secret deal, kept from the public, is far-reaching, extremely controversial, and was signed in a hell-bent hurry for bragging rights just prior to the federal election. Go figure.

Did Stephen Harper even have the mandate, the moral or legal right to sign any deal with such long-term, major impacts after he called the election, which he subsequently lost? We think not. The TPP is a potential trade disaster.

Are we being led into yet another political illusion of 'good deals, jobs and prosperity' —but in fact, being conned into a future of slavery, loss of control over our own environment, and foreign national corporate manipulation of Canadian resources? A never-ending legal morass? Clearly, a loss of sovereignty over natural resources is at question, and clearly, potential lawsuits, ethics, preemptive corporate influence, and the sell-out of Canadian interests in many areas are all involved. Environmental issues and gutting of important environmental regulations, climate change programs, intellectual property, copyrights, patents, the cost of drugs, the auto industry, agriculture, and many others will also be negatively affected. The quality of food. Health Care. Privacy. Personal information. Freedom of Expression. This is not a good deal for Canadians in spite of the lies, misrepresentation, and the political "Harper-hype".

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his new, untried Liberal majority, is now in power, 'pro-trade' and will be required in the near future to examine, explain, and justify this trade deal to Canadians, and will shoulder the responsibility of the eventual ratification of the deal with 12 other nations.

Will Prime Minister Justin Trudeau now do the right thing and re-open the TPP, — and refuse to ratify this incredibly bad deal if the unacceptable content of this potential trade disaster cannot be re-negotiated or deleted?

Canadians must become informed. Read the 6,000 pages now made public, and weep. Experts suggest this deal will cost Canadians billions —and much, much more. Think. You decide, and hold Harper and the Conservatives accountable for once again selling out Canada.

The subjugation of Canada to an unquestionably and inexcusably bad trade disaster and secret agreement arranged by an ousted, narrow-minded, undemocratic, failed ex-Prime Minister is unreasonable and unacceptable by any stretch of the imagination of this Canadian. To agree to any potentially disastrous deal of this magnitude without transparency, full public consultation and regard for the future of all Canadians is undemocratic, unthinkable and unacceptable.

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Is that Incoming I hear?

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/balsillie-fears-tpp-could-cost-canada-billions-become-203327302.html

https://cjfe.org/resources/features/trading-away-our-rights?gclid=COOh-uLig8kCFVU2aQodqBgHrQ

Posted in Business, Economic issues, Ethics, Major Issues, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged #economics, NAFTA, politics, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Sell-out of Canada, Stephen Harper, TPP, Trade disaster, Trans Pacific Partnership | Leave a comment

Political Miracles Are Also Welcome

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Raymond Alexander Kukkee

Original Thought from Leaders are Potential Change

Original Thoughts from Leaders are Potential Change[/caption]

Pope Francis Issues a Papal Encyclical on the Environment

Let's call it what it is. A controversy. An epic battle in the making. An epic battle between realms; the spiritual vs. the economic-political. The world in which we struggle to survive is increasingly becoming a deteriorated pile of filth, an unparalleled disgusting mess. Already precipitating a humanitarian disaster of biblical proportions the disasters occurring are totally unnecessary and unacceptable to modern civilization. Climate change must be addressed and remedied by everyone including his 1.5 billion faithful and the rich alike. Everyone must be involved, suggested Pope Francis in an edgy new encyclical on the environment. Rich countries, Pope Francis also observed, in his newest and highly controversial papal encyclical, are primarily responsible for climate change, the environment being a mess, a growing cesspool of greed and human tragedy. He is demanding action. A rallying call. Get to it. Remedies are to be initiated by the faithful. Immediately and decisively. Genuine thought worthy of a leader. Kudos to Pope Francis, a genuine leader. It seems some politicians are displeased to hear the truth. Imagine that. Politicians loudly object when sensitive buttons have been pushed. A reality check for the thinking; it has been historically and repeatedly demonstrated that the political realm is an unlikely source of miracles where ~~the environment is irrelevant and~~ corporate interests and greed are paramount. Presidential candidate Jeb Bush suggests Pope Francis is a nice guy but " should leave resolving of environmental problems to the political realm." We burst out laughing. Really. In overview, to mitigate ongoing climate change and survive ever more common serious disasters may now require miracles of the Godly kind. Hear, hear! —but let us remain optimistic and open-minded; political miracles are still welcome. We begin to ~~smirk , chuckle, then laugh raucously,~~ analyze and ponder the implications. ~~We wink and yawn.~~

"Look, Jebbie, old man, be reasonable; you are aspiring to follow in the footsteps of Georgie and Daddy, are you not? A presidential wannabe? You want to lead a mere 300 million Americans? (smirk) Pope Francis is already leading 1.2 billion+ people worldwide. Successfully. With respect. With dignity. And God's on his side. He's got the jump on you and has a nice hat too. And a pope-mobile. " *click

—And a Popemobile, Jebbie, this is serious stuff....wait..wait, did'ya get that, Jebbie? .—Was that a disconnect? —wait, —Jeb...Jebbie? Did you hang up on us, Jebbie? Mission accomplished?'"

Ah well. See what happens? No matter. Jebbie got huffy and stormed off to play golf.

Political Miracles from the Political Realm?

We could not agree more that environmental destruction has been caused in the majority, by greedy, foolish use of and thoughtless exploitation of world resources. Profiteering at any cost. Any cost, worth repeating. Even the destruction of humanity itself. Living in a corporate-dictated world, a greedy, throw-away, wasteful and uncaring society is unhelpful in all things environmental—a classic understatement. The controversial fossil fuel lifestyle was designed by, and for the egos and benefit of the corporate rich. It is promoted by fossilized minds which detest the concept of free energy and clean technology. It has been exacerbated by greedy corporate ideology enabled by the self-entitled, narrow-minded, obscenely rich political realm at the expense of all other human beings and other life forms. An epic battle is long overdue. The environment is suffocating for the lack of meaningful remedial action, gasping for the tiniest sign of hope. Species are disappearing at an unbelievable rate, never to be seen again. Unacceptable, says Pope Francis. Climate change is real, the earth is heating, make no mistake about it, time is of the essence, and the rich and powerful simply do not care. The mind-set is tuned to greed and profit, even though, strangely, there is much more profit to be gained by changing to clean technology. *Note to Self: Each small step toward remediation and and change in societal direction requires will-power and miracles—political miracles to be specific. Commitment, Jebbie! Actual thinking for yourself. Actual doing. Actually taking responsibility. **Note 2 to Self: How unlikely. How sad for humanity. Pope Francis is right, the process of environmental healing must begin, no matter how many uber- rich politicians promise political miracles and indignantly scream objections, fearing economic change and loss of both political influence and tax havens. Let us be realistic. Agreement on the necessity of controlling the corporate sector enough reclaim the environment would be a political miracle. Finding politicians honest enough to act with that goal in mind might be closer to the Godly variety. Let us willfully declare our commitment to civilization and our humanity. Let us not cop out to garner the favour of fossilized, rich political naysayers. Time is running out, whether or not we believe the controversial words of Pope Francis. What do YOU think? # Is that Incoming I hear?

Posted in Civilization, Economic issues, Environment, Major Issues, Politics | Tagged choices, civilization, environment, humanity, papal encyclical on the environment, politics, Pope Francis | 6 Comments